The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 045

I lie wide awake in my room. Since Denise left and became a mage researcher for the Sword, she now stays at the barracks together with the warriors and other researchers, I am alone in my room. This is one of the nights that I miss her. It's moments like this that I try to get her opinion over something. In my previous timeline, she also always there to listen to all my issues, not in a motherly way like Olivia, but a brutal, rational friend.

My mind is muddled as I think about Maitane’s death followed by Demetrio’s. It’s Sunday now and the Academy will only give us a week more to stay before our rooms are given to the new mages. They provide us a place to stay in an apartment in the town center though, beside a Quad office, that handles every small thing that the more experienced mages can’t face due to time constraints. Some undergo training if their combat abilities are good enough. Some help the warriors patrol the border but most fresh graduates help the farmers and choose to live closer to them.

My room is almost empty now. Saturday was chaos as we tried to make sense of what happened to Demetrio. And Sunday, I started to move my things to a room provided to me by the Quad Office. Just one more day and all will be transferred, including all the documents and process, to get my things out of the Academy.

I cover my eyes with my arm. Damn. I missed Master Orson. I will miss the secret room he had which is being handled by Sir Philip now. Most of all, I miss Aaron and his touch. I hug myself as I imagine what Senyor Pablo will say to me now that I missed our weekly exercise. Master Deborah does not force me to go with her anymore outside the zone excursions. But Nico and I continued our monthly combat which should have been today. I need to apologize to him about that.

I take a deep breath. I have more people I miss nowadays compared to my previous timeline. Am I becoming dependent on them? Becoming even weaker?

Suddenly, the door makes a squeaking sound and I hear it close on its own. I sit up on my bed and see Aicelle beside me. She slips under the sheets and gestures to me to do the same. When we’re both under the covers, she takes a trinket from her pocket and activates it, covering us in a glamour type of barrier.

“I got this the day before Master Orson died,” she whispers, even if there is no reason to. It’s the same trinket that Master Orson used so that no one can hear what we are talking about.

Then Aicelle asks, “Do you love him? Aaron?”

We stare at each other before I answer, “I want to stay with him. I don’t want to marry any man except him.”

Aicelle looks sad but then she continues, “Then what I’m about to ask you is a cruel thing.” She takes a deep breath, “Holly, I need your help and I need you to listen to me.”

Now, my mind is getting more messy. No one asked for my help before, especially not someone like Aicelle. She’s dependable, resourceful, smart and strong. What else can she ask for an ordinary mage like me?

“I need you to promise me to join the Scepter selection for Benia.”

“Why?” I ask. “You mention you’re gonna join it with Cara.”

“I did. And I’m still gonna join it. Cara and I, we will both help you to become the Scepter.”

“How about the two of you?”

“We will join the Scepter selection of another nation. That is, if we are still alive before that.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Someone’s culling us, Holly.”

I scowl and I hear the nervous thumping on my chest.

“They removed Master Orson first, he’s our number one protection inside this Academy. Then they removed Madame Maitane who has clairvoyance.”

“Then how about Demetrio? Are you saying someone forced him to retrogress?”

“Yes, someone powerful.”

Aicelle looks darkly serious. I don’t know what to make out of all of it. Somehow, I wish this to become a power struggle instead of culling.

“How certain are you that it’s not retrogress? How can you force someone to retrogress anyway?”

“Demetrio. His blessing is dangerous to himself and to his teammates. That’s why Al and I assured him that we can handle his blessing. More than his inborn ability, he works harder than anyone to master it. And he did it, Holly, a year ago. He showed it during our physical examinations. Did you know he failed the written exams?”

I shake my head.

“He failed the written test and yet, he’s still part of the top ten. That’s how huge his physical growth has become. Now, do you imagine someone like that to retrogress?”

Honestly, I can’t. If he mastered his blessing already, there’s no way that he will lose control of it. And if what she's saying is true, then he’s much stronger than both Aicelle and Ethan combined, probably the strongest graduate in the history of Marahuyo Academy.

“The day he died, he said that he’ll need to meet someone in the library. He said that he’ll reject the offer, no matter how tempting it is. The negotiations might have fallen off and they battled inside. I’m guessing they used a device similar to this trinket, but much larger, to hide the noise. And whoever he’s fighting against, it’s so much more stronger than him, Holly. Someone so powerful that he is forced to use everything that he has!”

“A mage?” I ask.

“Yes. No one can use a device as big as that without a steady supply of blessing. And no one can force a mage as powerful as Demetrio to use all he got, if he doesn’t have a way to protect himself against his lightning. Even if it’s a group he fought, each should have a way to protect themselves.”

I swallow. She’s right, protection spells only protect the wearer or the caster. It can’t be given to anyone and is specific to the user, much like the trinket I have around my neck.

To be continued…